rage to the wicked, wisdom to the good

~ Ariadne and Dionysus.

Period: Late Roman/Late Antiquity

Date: A.D. 3rd-5th century

Place of origin: Achmim, Egypt

“When the earth blossoms with all manner of fragrant spring flowers, then from beneath the murky gloom shall you come again, a mighty marvel to gods and to mortal men.”

-Homeric Hymn to Demeter

(Diana Awakening Apollo [1910] by Carl Bertling)

Callimachus refers to Artemis as “Queen” and asserts that when Artemis was a young girl sitting on her father Zeus’ knees, asking him to allow her to keep her maidenhood forever and receive her bow and arrows, she also asked him to be Phosphorus, or “Bringer of Light,” which became one of her many titles (Callimachus, Hymn 3.1). One of her most popular temples as “Bringer of Light” is at Messene in the sanctuary of Asclepius (Pausanias 4.31.10).

Zeus is more than delighted to give her all that she asks for: “three times ten cities and towers more than one live vouchsafe thee — three times ten cities that shall not note to glorify any other god but to glorify the only and be called of Artemis. And thou shall be Watcher over Streets and Harbors” (Callimachus, Hymn 3.28).

Thus, in addition to her being Phosphorus, she is also Enodia, “Protector of the Mariners.” Consequently, Artemis is not only “Saviour” through mercy — that is, people do not only pray to her for protection and peaceful death — but she is “Saviour” in a way that is omnipresent. As the “Bringer of Light,” her luminance literally saves ships, harbors, and all those who depend on these facilities to survive. In her role as Sôteira, Artemis inhabits the personal spaces of her community of worshipers.

As a goddess of mercy, she is invoked as Phôsphoros, meaning “Bringer of Light,” and she is often Hêmerasia or “She Who Soothes.” ... it is significant that her ritual worship expanded from “Huntress,” or goddess of wilderness, to the “Saviour” of her supplicants and the “Protector” of communities and cities.

hail to artemis and apollo, humming to themselves as they watch from above, sparks in the sky as the sun sinks deep and the moon rises &

hail to dionysus, standing in the kitchen with wine-red teeth, catching the drunk and steering them to safety, twirling dancing women with a firm hand &

hail to hekate, who travels where the barriers thin to gossamer pale, cross-legged at the crossroads, dogs with milky eyes licking at her heels &

hail to hestia, the light flickering at home, welcoming the child and the mother and the father, the drunk and the ride home, the friends and the family and everyone in-between, all who collapse in the living room to count their blessings and collect their beings &

“…Hekate, with a torch in her hands, met Demeter, and spoke to her and told her news: ‘Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you truly and shortly all I know.’

So, then, said Hekate. And the daughter of rich-haired Rhea answered her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches in her hands.”